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IN THE HEPTHS it THE ARK
.5 Different Complete Jtory Every week
15-Wfd "'9051.‘V- By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered according to Act of Congress in (112 year 1405, in the Ojice of the Librarian of Congress.
Waslzington, D. C. STREET & b'M1’1‘l-I, 23.? lVz'il1'am St., IV. 1'.
No. 109.
NEW YORK, January 21, 1905.
Price Five Cents.
OR,
The Vengeance of Van Vincent.
By the author of “The Wreck of the ‘ Glaucus."’
CHAPTER I.
MURDER I
. The little village of Edgewater was covered by the
mky pall of night.
The big clock on the steeple of the town hall had just
mllfd the hour of twelve. I
Ever since night set in the clouds had been heavy
and threatening, and as the midnight hour arrived the
5tOVm burst forth in all its fury.
The wind arose to a perfect hurricane, and the rain
came down in torrents.
Van Vincent, a bright, handsome youth of eighteen
years, who is to figure as the hero of this story. was
awakened from his slumber bv the creaking of the beams
and timbers in the old-fashioned house he called his
home.
Van was an orphan, as far as he knew. and lived with
an uncle, who was reported as being‘ very wealthy. though
the house he lived in and his everrday appearance would
not lead anyone to think so. i
The last Van had ever heard of his father he had
gone to Africa with an exploring party.
That was fifteen years before. and up to tl1iS time
none of the party had ever returned.
Ralph Vincent, the uncle of Van. had f.fi‘x‘x"l1 the boy‘
3 Kood educatirm, anrl obtained for him the situation
Of bookkeeper in the largest store in Edgcwater.
Consequently Van loved and respected his uncle. who
had often declared that the boy should inherit what little
he possessed in earthly goods.
As Van was awakened by the violence of the storm on
the night upon which our story opens, he felt rather
uneasy.
lle had been amused from a bad dream, and it took
him several seconds to realize that he was home and in
bed.
“)xl)'3" he exclaimed. leaping out of bed; "this is a
fearful storm. I must close the window."
He started toward a window, the sash of which was
lowered sliglitly, allowing the rain to dash into the room.
Just as he did so he heard a blood-curdling cry that
nearly froze his soul with horror.
“Help! murder! mur ”
For the space of ten seconds Van stood as if trans-
fixed.
The terrible cry came from his unclels room. which
was on the first floor, and almost directly beneath him.
The boy knew. too. that it was his uncle's voice that
uttered the cries. and seizing: a revolver from the drawer
of the bureau in his room. he darted downstairs.
Reacliinct ll‘.<' door of the mom whence the cries came,
he found it locked.
Van Vincent was not the sort to be balked verv Casilv
when he started to do a thing. Taking a few steps back-
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